Jim Hancock: EU gravy train issue is a major distraction

Jun 9 2008 by Jim Hancock, Liverpool Daily Post

MEMBERS of the European Parliament have always suffered from a bad press, often unfairly in my opinion.

I think the general view would be that they are on a gravy train, swanning about in Brussels, involving themselves in matters of which we know little. This image is cultivated by a British press, which, with honourable exceptions, is rabidly anti-EU. The European Union doesn’t suit Rupert Murdoch, so his publications pour out their bile on anything European.

The newspapers veer between saying the EU only concerns itself about the shape of bananas, to representing it as the biggest threat to our sovereignty since William the Conqueror.

We on Merseyside have a more informed view of the matter. After all, the sub- region has benefited considerably from European structural funding. We have close connections with the Irish Republic, whose economy has been transformed since joining the EU.

Some are aware of the hard work done by North West MEPs like Arlene McCarthy, on cross-border issues like consumer standards or gun control, and personal campaigns on behalf of people like jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields.

All this said, the weekend saw the MEPs’ expenses issue once again dominating the headlines with two North West Tory members in the spotlight. The media reported Sir Robert Atkins used expenses to fly to his son’s wedding. He says he combined the US visit with political work. Den Dover was removed as Chief Whip of the Conservative Group in Brussels after reports that he’d channelled his staff allowance to a family firm. Mr Dover was quoted as saying he was totally within the rules (which is perhaps a comment on the regulations) but that voters might find his action "dodgy". The Tory Party said the change was unrelated to the expenses row, but David Cameron has already gained a reputation for ruthlessness in this area.

The episode has provoked a bout of soul searching by our other North West MEPs. Chris Davies, once Liberal Chair of Liverpool’s housing committee, and now the North West’s Lib-Dem MEP, has been fighting for changes in European expenses rules for years. But he, and other British members, have often faced indifference or opposition from other countries’ MEPs. Some reforms are belatedly coming on stream, but the expenses remain lavish and not properly accounted for. Even Chris Davies himself admitted paying excess travel allowances into his party’s coffers.

Labour MEP Richard Corbett (who briefly sat as Euro MP for Merseyside West) has called for the publication of a regular report of spending on staff and second homes by European members. His leader, NW Labour MEP, Gary Titley is reported as saying that the expenses of MEPs in his party are independently audited, but fears a receipt by receipt examination would be a distraction.

Well, that’s what we mere mortals have to accept with our expenses claims. Maybe our MEPs should recognise the gravy train issue is itself a major distraction from the important work they do.